Emergency Plumbing

A plumbing emergency is when something goes wrong with your water pipes or fixtures and it necessitates immediate repair. This could involve a burst pipe sending a deluge into your home, or a toilet that is gushing and can't be made to stop. Sometimes a really bad leak or blockage will fit the emergency bill, too. Basically, if it's destroying something in your home or you can't use key fixtures like a toilet or sink, it's time to put in a panicked call to a plumber.

Emergency plumbing services from Roto Rooters can have a pretty wide price range. Where you live and how serious the situation is play a big part in determining the cost. In some cases, you might pay just a bit over what you'd normally pay for regular service. In other, much bigger cases, though, it could set you back a whole lot more. Definitely be sure to ask for a quote so you can better know what to expect.

You can't call 911 when your plumbing is in trouble. 911 is for cases where someone's life is in danger—like fires, serious accidents, or health emergencies. If your plumbing is giving you fits, call an expert instead. A plumber knows how to repair leaks, stop them from going all the way down the flood path, and get your pipes unclogged and back to normal. And don't call your clog-prone friend who's always juggling construction do's and don'ts; that's not a helpful number to have saved.

An emergency plumber usually shows up within one to two hours, but their actual arrival time often depends on where you live and how crazy-busy they are. If you've got a big problem—like a burst pipe—they might come faster. It's always a good idea to ask when they think they'll be able to show up.

Indeed, a toilet that won't flush can be an emergency situation, particularly if it is the sole commode in a residence. Indoor plumbing in the form of a toilet is often taken for granted, despite the fact that it is crucial to a basic standard of cleanliness and health in the home. A non-flushing toilet can lead to greater problems, such as smells that permeate the entire house or water damage in areas close to the toilet.

An urgent situation is a leaking pipe. It means something is wrong if you see even a small amount of water dripping or pooling. Water can lead to damage in many ways very quickly. It might make flooring slippery, which can be dangerous in many kinds of places. Or it could lead to mold, which is definitely something you don't want in your home or workplace. Even if the leaking pipe in question looks like it's only weeping a little, there's no reason to think that's all it can possibly do. If conditions are right, it might lead to all sorts of bad watery outcomes.

Indeed, a toilet can be an emergency situation if it is clogged. How severe a flooding event is and the stillness of water often determine its emergency status. If the water is spilling onto the floor and it looks like your house is about to develop a swampy situation, this is when you might want to grab an emergency toilet kit and make like Roto-Rooter. Because at this point, you've either got a bathroom that to some extent is usable or you've got two and you don't need it wetter than the other one.

In a lot of areas, a functioning toilet is an essential part of health and safety. It might not be strictly illegal to have a toilet that doesn't function, but it can result in legal issues. For example, my parents used to rent a house, and the landlord had to ensure that the plumbing was functional. If you own the place where you live and the plumbing doesn't function, you're way closer to having a health problem or a significant plumbing disaster. Also, you might get fined or have other legal problems because your place may be deemed unsafe.

A plumbing issue that constitutes an emergency maintenance request is one that can't possibly wait to be fixed. The toilet overflowing and threatening to become a flood isn't a seen-and-fixed emergency; it's a maintenance issue that requires a plumber to do real plumbing. That's one example. After the jump, we'll look at a few more examples of the kind of plumbing problems that necessitate an emergency maintenance request, along with some signs that might tip you off to the kind of plumbing issue that can't possibly wait.

It's not a good idea to leave a toilet stopped up overnight. If you do, the water might find its way out and make a big mess. The problem could also get more serious. It's better to try to clear it as soon as you see the signs and using a plunger could do the trick, much in the way a fireman pole would get you down to the floor at a fire station, if the personnel inside happened to be in that moment a clog in the emergency response service otherwise known as 911.